The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is facing a profound crisis of direction, according to former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück, who has delivered a scathing critique of the party’s current trajectory. In an interview with “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, Steinbrück, a veteran of German politics, argued the SPD is struggling to define its core identity and purpose.
He suggested the party is chasing the legacy of former Chancellor Willy Brandt – the principle of adapting to the needs of the time – but failing to grasp the contemporary challenges. A concerning trend, Steinbrück observed, is the belief that a coalition of niche interests can translate into a broad electoral mandate. He specifically cited issues such as cannabis legalization, self-determination of names, gender identity policies and broader identity politics as examples of this focus, dismissing them as peripheral to the concerns of the majority of German voters.
“I am convinced that the vast majority of citizens do not consider these issues as central or decisive in their voting decisions” Steinbrück stated bluntly. He emphasized the SPD’s historical success has always stemmed from a balance: advocating for social justice while also demonstrating competence in navigating economic and technological advancements. He warned that neglecting either of these pillars risks stagnation.
However, Steinbrück’s criticism extends beyond policy choices. He accused a segment of the political class, including members of his own party, of a debilitating self-absorption. The focus, he argued, has shifted inward – towards internal party mechanisms like delegate conferences and party conventions where the sole objective appears to be securing a position by mimicking dominant ideological currents rather than engaging with the electorate.
“The serious business of politics seems to be the delegate conference or the party convention” he lamented. “One must sing the party-approved code and the tones of the dominant currents at the party convention as correctly as possible”. This inward focus, he insists, is a fundamental misdirection. The critical juncture, he argues, should be a genuine engagement with voters and a sincere effort to address their anxieties and priorities – a connection that, by his assessment, the SPD has increasingly lost. His words represent a sharp challenge to the party’s leadership and its current political strategy, prompting urgent questions about its future relevance within the German political landscape.
